24 years in 140 characters: Celebrate drop goals as if planting the flag on Iwo Jima – it's to do with the absence of genuine hope. Did beat Japan in 87 and 03, though.

World Cup record: 1987: Pool Stages

1991: Pool Stages

1995: Did not qualify

1999: Pool Stages

2003: Pool Stages

2007: Pool Stages

Record in 2011: P5 W1 L4

Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan

Captain: Todd Clever

How are they likely to get on? The alarm bells will have gone off when a muscular Japanese side beat the USA last month. With rugby having finally become an Olympic sport again, the reigning Olympic champions (from 1924) need a decent World Cup to keep up the momentum and lure the kids.

Key player: The Biarritz wing Takudzwa Ngwenya was a star of 2007, when he showed South Africa's Bryan Habana a clean pair of heals for a memorable try.

Commentator's kit: Mate Moeakiola, the Eagles prop who scored a try in a creditable 28-10 defeat by England in 2007, did so while representing the splendidly named Utah club Park City Haggis. Sadly, he now plays in France, for Bobigny 93.